Bakersfield Men Sentenced For Selling Drugs and Guns To Undercover Agent

Undercover agent received shipments via Fed-X

Three Bakersfield residents, Jeremy Vaughn, Brian Skinner, and Anthony Ramos were sentenced in federal court for selling drugs and guns to an undercover ATF Agent through Fed-X and the U.S. Mail. The announcement was made by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives special agents Julie Leon and Joseph M. Riehl from the Tampa and San Francisco Field Divisions.

Jeremy Vaughn, 39, a resident of Bakersfield, CA, was sentenced to life in prison as an armed career criminal for his leadership role in shipping multiple firearms in conjunction with shipments of methamphetamine from Bakersfield, California to Florida for undercover purchase. Brian Skinner, 40; and Anthony Ramos, 34, were sentenced to 15 years and 10 years confinement respectively.

Federal search warrants served In Bakersfield

In February of this year, federal search warrants were served by ATF Agents in Bakersfield, California resulting in federal arrests warrants being issued from the Northern District of Florida for these three individuals. The investigation involved the undercover purchase of firearms and methamphetamine shipped via United States Postal Service and Fed Ex from Bakersfield, California to Pensacola, Florida. The search warrants served resulted in the seizure of numerous firearms and methamphetamine.

On April 15, 2013, Vaughn pled guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 500 Grams of methamphetamine; and shipment and transportation of firearms in interstate commerce by a convicted felon. On April 17, 2013, Ramos pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; and on May 1, 2013, Skinner plead to the same.

This was a collaborative effort between ATF Agents from the Tampa Field Division and the San Francisco Field Division as well as the Bakersfield Police Department.

“ATF focuses on the tools of the trade that make drug traffickers a viable and violent threat to public safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Julie Leon. “Our mission is to reduce violent crime to make our communities safer.”

“ATF will continue to vigorously track the individuals who chose to violate the law and illegally traffic in firearms,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Riehl. “Collectively we disallowed firearms from being sold on our streets and getting into the hands of gang members, convicted felons and other criminals who commit violent crimes.”

Nancy Hess Assistant U.S. Attorney, Northern Tampa Judicial District, Pensacola Division is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the ATF, Tampa Florida, and San Francisco Field Divisions. ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating violent crime and firearm trafficking violations.